title: Effect of Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 on a nasal provocation test with grass pollen in allergic rhinitis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Probiotics have been associated with prevention and improvement of symptoms in atopic diseases such as atopic dermatitis. However, few studies exist that document their efficacy for upper airways allergies such as allergic rhinitis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the effect of short-term oral administration of Lactobacillus paracasei ST11 on a nasal provocation test (NPT) with grass pollen.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one adult volunteers with allergic rhinitis were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, based on two 4-week cross-over periods of product consumption (ST11-fermented milk vs. placebo), separated by a wash-out period of 6-8 weeks. Objective and subjective clinical parameters of NPT as well as systemic and nasal immunological parameters were compared between the two treatment periods (registration number: NCT 011 50 253).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects that received ST11-fermented milk had lower nasal congestion than subjects under placebo (visual analogical scale; P<0.05). Nasal pruritus followed the same trend. However, no significant change in combined nasal reaction threshold was observed between the two periods. IL-5 secretion by peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum allergen-specific IgG4 were significantly lower in ST11-fermented milk group compared to placebo group. IL-8 and IL-10 secretion followed the same trend.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Short-term treatment with ST11-fermented milk before NPT significantly improved a clinical marker of NPT (subjective nasal congestion) and down-regulated systemic immune markers (IL-5 from peripheral blood mononuclear cells and serum IgG4). These data strongly suggest that probiotics may down modulate key parameters of allergic rhinitis and warrant future evaluation in seasonal trials.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Allergy, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne, Switzerland Nestle Research Centre, Lausanne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wassenberg
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nutten
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Audran
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Barbier
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Aubert
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moulin
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mercenier
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Spertini
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D043302:Cultured Milk Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000097:blood; D015848:Interleukin-5 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D007778:Lactobacillus / Q000276:immunology*; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009299:Nasal Provocation Tests; D006109:Poaceae / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D011058:Pollen / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology; D019936:Probiotics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006255:Rhinitis, Allergic, Seasonal / Q000517:prevention & control*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D015848:Interleukin-5